It is about one year that Armenia does not have Ambassadors in important countries such as France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. In February 2008 the Ambassador of Armenia in Italy, Portugal and Spain, Ruben Shugaryan made a joint announcement with a number of politicians to endorse the opposition candidate in the pre-election campaign and joined Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s team. After this announcement former president Robert Kocharyan signed an order to dismiss him and other people from their positions.
According to our information, R. Shugaryan has asked for political shelter in the United States now lives there. Even there were rumors that Artashes Geghamyan wanted to become Ambassador in Italy. During that period there was robbery from the Embassy and a number of documents and passports disappeared. Armenia does not have an Ambassador in France since the former Ambassador was appointed foreign affairs minister. According to our information, Vigen Chitechyan, the Ambassador of Armenia in Belgium, will be appointed Ambassador in France. It is not know yet who will replace him and who will be appointed as Ambassadors of Armenia in Belgium, Italy, Spain and Portugal.